Holliston lawyer to challenge McGovern for U.S. rep

Marty Lamb, a Holliston real estate attorney, is no politician. That's exactly the perspective he wants to take to Congress.

David Riley

Marty Lamb, a Holliston real estate attorney, is no politician.

That's exactly the perspective he wants to take to Congress.

The 52-year-old Republican said yesterday he plans to mount a campaign for the House seat held by seven-term U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-3rd.

Lamb hasn't held public office before, and while he volunteered for Scott Brown's successful U.S. Senate campaign, he's no party insider.

That's not what Congress needs, he said from his law office at Lamb and Browne on Concord Street in Holliston, where he's worked for 15 years. Congress needs an outsider who's had to worry about paying bills and running a business to counteract "the non-connect, the elitism in Washington," he said.

"I'm a small-business owner. I am not a politician, never have been a politician and plan on serving as a person the way the Founding Fathers actually envisioned," Lamb said.

"The reason they have Congress as a two-year term is they envisioned someone from real life ... going to Washington for a couple of years to represent people like them," he said.

Michael Mershon, a spokesman for McGovern, said after the Senate campaign, voters could use a few days off before the next race.

"We welcome Mr. Lamb - and whoever else chooses to run - to the race and look forward to a good debate on the issues," Mershon said in an e-mail yesterday. "In the meantime, Jim McGovern will continue to fight hard for the people of the 3rd District."

Lamb said he had been gearing up to campaign in February, but is getting started early because he is looking to "ride the wave" of Brown's victory.

"Scott Brown obviously changed the political climate considerably," he said.

The Federal Election Commission's Web site indicates Lamb has yet to file paperwork for his campaign.

Lamb said he has yet to hit a fundraising threshold required for campaign finance paperwork, but he plans to file shortly.

As of September, McGovern had $564,933 on hand, according to campaign finance reports.

Lamb is calling for tax cuts on small businesses and a moratorium on payroll taxes, saying both will stimulate the economy.

While "going green is a good, worthy goal," Lamb opposes cap-and-trade legislation, which he said would come at the cost of ratepayers.

And he opposes Democratic proposals for health care reform, though Lamb said he does favor allowing interstate purchasing of medical insurance, pursuing Medicaid and Medicare fraud and reforming malpractice rules.

Lamb hit the airwaves yesterday on Jay Severin's talk radio show on 96.9 FM. He said he'll be appearing on a show on WBSM in New Bedford on Monday and speaking in Fall River in late February.

He lives in Holliston with his wife, Peri, with whom he has two daughters, Elissa, 18, and Simma, 16.

McGovern, 50, of Worcester, first won his seat in 1996, defeating Republican Peter Blute. He worked as a senior aide to Rep. John Joseph Moakley for 14 years before his election.

He last faced an opponent in 2004, when Ashland Republican Ron Crews ran for the seat.

On his Web site, McGovern highlights his work on education initiatives, providing adequate health care, conservation, human rights and securing federal funding for the region.

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